Apparatus for printing on cylindrical containers



27, 1966 L. J. KESSLER ETAL. 3,2%,%

APPARATUS FOR PRINTING ON CYLINDRICAL CONTAINERS Filed Sept. 30, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS Lou/s J. ,L esszee 7/7608 K623564572 ATTO R N EYS 1966 L. J. KESSLER EITAL 3,

APPARATUS FOR PRINTING 0N CYLINDRIGAL CONTAINERS Filed Sept. 30, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS 4 a (II: J. 176 54 eve Incas was. ae

ljibm/iwm ATTORN EYS 1955 L. J. KESSLER ETAL 3,

APPARATUS FOR PRINTING ON CYLINDRICAL CONTAINERS Filed Sept. 50, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Louis J". kessce :rAcaB Messae' fi t, 4. "M

ATTORN EYS Dec. 27, 1966 L. J. KESSLER ETAL 3,

APPARATUS FOR PRINTING 0N CYLINDRICAL CONTAINERS Filed Sept. 30, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent (3 3,24,tl16 APPARATUS FOR PRINTING N CYLKNDRICAL C(DNTAINERS Louis .I. Kessler and Jacob Kessler, Brooklyn, N.Y., as-

signors to Industrial Marking Equipment Corporation, Brooklyn, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Sept. 30, 1965, Ser. No. 491,537 7 Claims. (Cl. 101-40) This invention relates generally to industrial printing equipment and more particularly to a printing machine for printing on cylindrical containers, such as cans, in a continuous production run.

It is a principal object of this invention to provide an industrial printing machine for marking containers which will not jam as a result of excessive feed at the point of printing.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an industrial printing machine for printing on cylindrical containers, such as cans, in a continuous production run, one which will require a minimum of effort and skill on the part of the operator and one which will reduce shock load since it does not operate by a stop and go action but rather by a continuous flow with no stopping of the container to be printed upon.

It is another object of the invention to provide such a machine which can print on a filled can or an empty can and which can also be used to print on a weak walled or collapsible container.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide such a machine which can print on a container with a plurality of properly spaced and positioned colors in a single run.

It is another object of this invention to provide a printing machine which will operate by dry offset method as well as flexographically.

A printing machine constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention and the method of using the same is described below with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a printing machine constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the printing machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the drive system and associated elements of the machine;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken the line 4-4 in the direction of the arrows in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 55 in the direction of the arrows in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 in the direction of the arrows in FIG. 4.

A printing machine constructed in accordance with the invention is shown in the figure and includes a main casing 10, printing station 11, input and output conveyors 12 and 13, respectively, and rotator output slide 14.

Input conveyor 12 consists of two parallel, continuous chains 12a and 12b supported on and driven by gears 15a and 1511, respectively, at one end and supported at the remaining end by gears 1 5a and 16b, respectively. Gears 16a and 161) are not shown, however, the numeral 16 indicates these gears generally in FIG. 1. The gears 15a and 15b are supported by shaft 17 and the gears 16a and 16b are supported by shaft 18. Shafts 17 and 18 are rotatably supported by bracket 19 which is attached at one end to main casing 10 at a suitable vertical position.

Chains 12a and 12b are spaced at a distance less than the length of a container to be printed on and each supports a plurality of pairs of facing brackets 20. The

brackets of each pair are suitably spaced to form a cradle support for a container to be printed on and for each pair of brackets 20 on chain 12a there is a pair of brackets 20 on chain 12]) suitably positioned to cooperate in supporting a container. Containers 21a and 2111 are shown supported by the brackets 20 on the chain conveyor 12. Side rails 22a and 22b extend the length of bracket 19 adjacent the ends of containers being supported in conveyor 12 to prevent axial movement of the containers off of the brackets.

Members 23 and 23" define an arcuate plane 23'a and 23"a upon which a container to be printed on, such as container 21c, can move in rolling motion, and an angle bracket 24 which provides a surface 24a for introducing containers deposited thereon by driven star wheels 25 and 26 which in turn receive containers from the input conveyor. The input conveyor and the star wheels move in the directions indicated by the arrows in the figures. The drive system and the method of operation of the machine will be considered below. However, at this point it should be noted that containers to be printed on are conveyed by the input conveyor to the starwheels which cooperate to move the containers from the input conveyor and deposit them individually upon surface 24a so that they can move onto surface 23a in a rolling motion.

The numeral 27 indicates the blanket or printing cylinder and the numerals 28 and 29 indicate printing plate cylinders. These cylinders are supported by the main frame 10 in triangular configuration and as is well known in the art, the blanket or printing cylinder supports a blanket on its outer surface whereas the cylinders 28 and 29 support printing plates on their cylinders. Inker 30 is provided to cooperate with cylinder 28 and inker 31 cooperates with cylinder 29. As is the practice in the art, the printing plate cylinders are provided with peripheral plates having the indicia which is to be placed upon the container formed on the plates so that as the printing plates, due to rotation of the cylinders 28 and 29, pass through their respective inkers and have ink applied thereto upon continued rotation will imprint upon the printing blanket on cylinder 27, which inked imprint on the blanket will be placed upon the container, such as container 210, when it is contacted by the printing blanket as it proceeds over surface 23a in a rolling motion. In other words, the peripheries of the cylinder 27, 28 and 29, and the periphery of the container 210, as shown in FIG. 1, engage as illustrated in order to accomplish transfer of the impressions on the printing plates to the printing blanket and then to the container. The container passes over surface 23a and is received at the entrance 14a of rotator output slide 14. Rotator output slide 14 receives the container in the horizontal position at 14a and rotates the container while it moves down the slide until the container is at point 14b and it is vertical and due to the force of gravity is placed upon conveyor 13. In the figures containers are shown in phantom in the slide 14 and on conveyor 13 and indicated respectively by the numerals 21d and 21e. It is noted that whereas the container shown and indicated by the numeral 21c is in the horizontal position, the container indicated by the numeral 21a is in the vertical position and the container indicated by the numeral 21d is at an intermediate position of approximately 45 with the horizontal. Only one end of output conveyor 13 is shown in the figures and this end is shown supported by roller 32.

In order to maintain the proper relationships among elements of the machine, the device is driven from a single source which is drive motor 33 within the main frame shown in FIG. 3. Motor 33 rotates gear 34 which drives belt 35 which in turn rotates gear 36 which is rigidly mounted to shaft 37. Rotation of shaft 37 rotates the printing cylinder 27 and gear 38 which in turn rotates gear 39 and shaft 40 rotating printing plate cylinder 29. All rotations are in the direction of the arrows as shown in FIG. 3. Rotation of shaft 37 also rotates small gear 41 which drives belt 42 and turns gear 43 and shaft 44. Belt 42 is driven over idler 45 which is provided to take up slack when necessary. Rotation of shaft 44 rotates gear 46 within gear box 47, the output gear 48 of which drives gear 49 and shaft 50 driving printing plate cylinder 28. Thus, the printing plate cylinders and the printing blank cylinder are driven when the motor 33 rotates the gear 34 and means are provided for adjusting the rotational speed of the printing plate cylinder 28 through gear box 47.

Rotation of shaft 44 also rotates gear 51, moving belt 52 and rotating gear 53 which is fixedly mounted to shaft 54 to which is keyed star wheel 55. Idler gear 56 is provided for taking up the slack in belt 52. Rotation of shaft 54 rotates gear 57 which moves belt 58, rotating gear 59 and shaft 60 to which is keyed star wheel 26. Idler 61 is provided for taking up slack in belt 58. Hence, the star wheels are driven when shaft 54 is rotated, which rotation occurs when belt 35 drives the printing cylinder. Conveyor 12 is also driven by belt 52 since gear 62 is also keyed to shaft 54 and when this shaft rotates, gear 62 drives belt 63 and gear 64. Idler 65 is provided for taking up slack in belt 63. Rotation of gear 64 results in rotation of shaft 17 to which gears a and 15b are keyed.

A simplified drive system is therefore provided and the various elements can be synchronized so that upon energization of motor 33 the various parts will be driven.

In use, therefore, containers to be printed upon are placed upon conveyor 12 after the information which is to be placed thereon has been placed upon printing plate cylinders 28 and 29 in the form of peripheral plates. The use of two printing plates and two inkers allows for two specific colors although additional printing plate cylinders and additional colors can be provided if desired. Gear box 47 allows adjustment of printing plate cylinder 28 so that the proper relationship between the two printing plate cylinders exists. The printing blanket cylinder lying directly above and substantially in the center of surface 23a is adjusted so that the distance between the lower part of the printing blanket and the surface 23a is about that of the diameter of a container to be printed upon. The containers are transported by conveyor 12 in a horizontal attitude to the position where one of the points, such as shown in FIG. 4, can move beneath the container so that the container is transported as shown in phantom in FIG. 4 to the position of the container 21b in FIG. 4 and placed by the star wheels 25 and 26, moving in synchronism, on surface 24a and thereafter due to the movement of placing on surface 24a the container moves on to the surface 23a where the upper portion thereof contacts the periphery of printing cylinder 27 and is rolled on surface 23a to position 14a at the entrance to the rotating slide. The movement of the container over surface 23a is accomplished by the rotation of the printing cylinder 27 which also results in imprinting on the surface of the container the indicia to be placed thereon. Upon entrance to the rotator slide 14 at 14a the container moves through force of gravity to the position 14b and as it so moves the container is changed from a horizontal attitude at its entrance to the slide 14a to a vertical attitude at 14b where due to continued action of gravity it slides onto conveyor 13. The conveyor 13, as shown herein, is moved by a different source of power than the other components and elements of the machine.

Thus, a continuous production line printing can be accomplished and no jamming can occur in the printing position since containers placed in the printing position on surface 23a by operation of the star wheels 25 and 26 which operate in synchronism with the printing cylinder. Surface 23a provides an arcuate cradle which can be properly spaced from the periphery of the printing cylinder. Additionally, since no mandrel is required for holding the container, the container can be in a filled condition at the time of printing and if it is desired to print upon plastic or containers formed from a flexible material, air or other supporting material can be inserted inside of the container to support the same during printing and to prevent the walls thereof from collapsing. Additionally, the number of colors which can be applied to the surface of the container can be increased appreciably and due to the synchronisation of the operating components of the machine the likelihood of indexing problems with respect to the placement of printed material of varying colors on the container is decreased.

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention, as specifically aforenoted, are achieved. Obviously, numerous changes in construction and rearrangement of parts might be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

We claim:

1. A machine for placing indicia on a cylindrical container including in combination an upwardly facing arcuate planar surface, a cylindrical printing blanket overlying said planar surface with the periphery thereof spaced therefrom at a distance substantially equal to the diameter of said container and with its axis parallel to the axis of said planar surface, a conveyor with an end thereof spaced from said planar surface, a plurality of individual cradle means provided on said conveyor, each of said cradle means being constructed and arranged to support a container therein with its axis parallel to the axis of said planar surface, a pair of spaced star wheels, a star wheel supporting shaft parallel to said planar surface for supporting said star wheels between said conveyor and said planar surface, transfer means for applying indicia to said printing blanket, drive means, a drive shaft driven in rotatable motion by said drive means, a printing blanket shaft coupled to said drive shaft, a conveyor drive shaft of said conveyor coupled to said printing blanket shaft, said star wheel supporting shaft being coupled to said conveyor drive shaft, means for energizing said drive means whereby said conveyor drive shaft is rotated to sequentially deposit containers on said star wheels, said star wheel shaft being rotated to sequentially deposit containers on said planar surface, said printing blanket shaft being rotated and said printing blanket engaging the surface of said container and rolling said container over said planar surface while transferring indicia thereto and container receiving means for receiving said container after it leaves said planar surface under the influence of engagement with said blanket.

2. A machine for placing indicia on a cylindrical container in accordance with claim 1 including a second pair of spaced star wheels, a second star wheel supporting shaft coupled to said conveyor shaft, said second pair of star wheels being spaced from said first pair of star wheels at a distance substantially equal to the diameter of said container so as to embrace a portion of said container supported by said first pair of drive wheels and to be rotated during rotation of said first pair of star wheels providing positive deposition of said container upon said planar surface.

3. A machine for placing indicia on a cylindrical container in accordance with claim 1 in which said conveyor consists of a pair of substantially parallel continuous chains which mount cradles for conveying containers and said star wheels each having a portion thereof upon rotation embracing a lower surface of said container and lifting said container from its respective cradle during the deposition of said respective container on said star wheels.

4. A machine for placing indicia on a cylindrical container in accordance with claim 1 in which said container receiving means includes a plurality of rails forming a slide upon which said containers can move in rolling motion downwardly under the influence of gravity.

5. A machine for placing indicia on a cylindrical container in accordance with claim 4 in which said rails are in the configuration of a portion of a helix receiving said containers in horizontal attitude and allowing said containers to leave said slide in vertical attitude.

6. A machine for placing indicia on a cylindrical container in accordance with claim 1 in which said transfer means includes a cylindrical printing plate bearing printing elements in the form of indicia to be placed on said container and means for inking said printing elements, said printing plate being coupled to said drive shaft for rotation thereby with said printing elements contacting said printing blanket in predetermined positions.

7. A machine for placing indicia on a cylindrical container in accordance with claim 1 in which said transfer means includes a plurality of cylindrical printing plates bearing printing elements in the form of indicia to be placed on said container and means for inking said printing elements, each of said printing plates being coupled to said drive shaft for rotation thereby about an axis parallel with the axis of said printing blanket and said printing elements contacting said printing blanket in predetermined positions.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 651,329 6/1900 Hagen 1014O 774,822 11/1904 Biette 10138 1,002,973 9/1911 Duncan 101-40 1,066,488 7/ 1913 Ginaca 10140 2,111,039 3/1938 Albertoli 10139 2,261,255 11/1941 Jackson 101-38 X 3,086,458 4/1963 Shafer 101-1 15 3,176,609 4/1965 Steckling 101-35 ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner. W. F. MCCARTHY, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A MACHINE FOR PLACING INDICIA ON A CYLINDRICAL CONTAINER INCLUDING IN COMBINATION AN UPWARDLY FACING ARCUATE PLANAR SURFACE, A CYLINDRICAL PRINTING BLANKET OVERLYING SAID PLANAR SURFACE WITH THE PERIPHERY THEREOF SPACED THEREFROM AT A DISTANCE SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE DIAMETER OF SAID CONTAINER AND WITH ITS AXIS PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF SAID PLANAR SURFACE, A CONVEYOR WITH AN END THEREOF SPACED FROM SAID PLANAR SURFACE, A PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUAL CRADLE MEANS PROVIDED ON SAID CONVEYOR, EACH OF SAID CRADLE MEANS BEING CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED TO SUPPORT A CONTAINER THEREIN WITH ITS AXIS PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF SAID PLANAR SURFACE, A PAIR OF SPACED STAR WHEELS, A STAR WHEEL SUPPORTING SAID STAR WHEELS BETWEEN PLANAR SURFCE FOR SUPPORTING SHAFT PARALLEL TO SAID SAID CONVEYOR AND SAID PLANAR SURFACE, TRANSFER MEANS FOR APPLYING INDICIA TO SAID PRINTING BLANKET, DRIVE MEANS, A DRIVE SHAFT DRIVEN IN ROTATABLE MOTION BY SAID DRIVE MEANS, A PRINTING BLANKET SHAFT, SAID STAR WHEEL SUPPORTSHAFT, A CONVEYOR DRIVE SHAFT OF SAID CONVEYOR COUPLED TO SAID PRINTING BLANKET SHAFT, SAID STAR WHEEL SUPPORTING SHAFT BEING COUPLED TO SAID CONVEYOR DRIVE SHAFT, MEANS FOR ENERGIZING SAID DRIVE MEANS WHEREBY SAID CONVEYOR DRIVE SHAFT IS ROTATED TO SEQUENTIALLY DEPOSIT CONTAINERS ON SAID STAR WHEELS, SAID STAR WHEEL SHAFT BEING ROTATED TO SEQUENTIALLY DEPOSIT CONTAINERS ON SAID PLANAR SURFACE, SAID PRINTING BLANKET SHAFT BEING ROTATED AND SAID PRINTING BLANKET ENGAGING THE SURFACE OF SAID CONTAINER AND ROLLING SAID CONTAINER OVER SAID PLANAR SURFACE WHILE TRANSFERRING INDICIA THERETO AND CONTAINER RECEIVING MEANS FOR RECEIVING SAID CONTAINER AFTER IT LEAVES SAID PLANAR SURFACE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID BLANKET. 